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The ROG Strix G16 is Asus’ 16-inch gaming laptop for people who desire a more portable device. The Strix G17 and G18 are larger alternatives. The ROG Strix G16 has the latest Nvidia graphics processing unit (GPU), the GeForce RTX 4070, and the top-of-the-line Intel Core i9-13980HX Raptor Lake processor. This is the second mainstream laptop we’ve evaluated that has Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace-based GPU.
With a 16-inch 1920×1200 (WUXGA) 165 Hz IPS display, the ROG Strix G16 is also the most recent laptop to switch from a 16:9 to 16:10 aspect ratio. The 16GB of DDR5-4800 RAM, 1TB SSD, and high-quality chassis we’ve come to expect from Asus ROG give this laptop the goods to compete with some of the best gaming laptops on the market.
Asus ROG Strix G16 Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX or AMD Radeon |
| Display | 15.6-inch or 17.3-inch Full HD or 4K |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz or 240Hz (depending on model) |
| RAM | Up to 32GB DDR4 |
| Storage | SSD (various capacity options) |
| Keyboard | Backlit RGB with customizable lighting |
| Cooling System | Advanced thermal design |
| Ports | USB, HDMI, Ethernet, Audio Jacks |
Asus ROG Strix G16: Design
The ROG Strix G16’s case has been remade from the ground up for 2023, and I think it looks great. The lid is made of metal, and the rest of the case is made of plastic. Plastic doesn’t have to mean “cheap,” because the ROG Strix G16 has a satin-like sheen and a high-quality fit and finish all over. Asus’ RGB lighting isn’t too flashy. A thin “under-glow” LED strip runs along the front edge of the laptop and wraps around to the sides.
Each key on the keyboard also has its own light. Using Aura Sync in the Asus Armoury Crate program, you can change how each one works.When it comes to the keyboard, Asus put five programmable hotkeys at the top, named M1 through M5. By default, they control things like the volume, whether the microphone is on or off, and a quick way to get to the Armoury Crate.
Asus ROG Strix G16: Display
The ROG Strix G16’s 16-inch 1920×1200 (WUXGA) 165Hz IPS display is a stark example of the shift away from 16:9 aspect ratios in gaming laptops. In order to compete with the likes of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i and the MSI Stealth 17 Studio, Asus went all out with their latest gaming laptop, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17.
It features a 300Hz FHD IPS display, a 12th Gen Core i9 CPU, and an RTX 3070 Ti GPU. Our evaluation unit, the ROG Strix G16, will set you back close to $2,000, but with its high-quality components, it offers excellent value. It’s not cheap, but it’s one of the greatest gaming laptops you can get for the money right now. You can buy this laptop from its official website
Noise, Heat and Speakers
The 2023 Scar 16 from Asus features significant improvements in thermal management over its 2022 predecessors. There are now three fans, a more powerful heatpipe system, and heaters along the entire back border and both sides. They installed a massive cooler around the entire back, then connected its heatpipe at the top to the two main heatpipes that cool the CPU and GPU.
However, this 16-inch Scar has a little smaller cooling area than the 18-inch Scar because of its smaller size. As a result, the Scar 16’s components get a little warmer than those in the tried-and-true Scar 18, and a laptop stand that helps cool air circulate under the device will make a greater difference with the Scar 16. Manual at maximum fans will produce 51 dBA of noise, Turbo about 50 dBA, Performance around 42 dBA, and Silent at 35 dBA. While we haven’t encountered this coil’s whining, we can’t guarantee that you won’t.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Asus gives you a full QWERTY keyboard layout and extra hotkeys at the top. The hotkeys can be programmed, and by default, they control the volume, microphone, fan settings, and entry to Armoury Crate. With the Armoury Crate software, you can change what the programmed keys do. All of the keys have their own backlit RGB color.
The keys have 2 mm of travel, according to Asus, and we found it easy to type on. My fingers got used to the keys quickly. They were soft, so I could use them for hours at a time without getting tired. The site keyhero.com is where I go to try keyboards. I’ve said many times that I’m not the best or most accurate typist, but I got 67.81 words per minute and 97.1% accuracy.
Asus ROG Strix G16: Battery Life
All of the 2023 ROG Scar versions have a 90Wh battery, just like the models from the past. The system is set to automatically change the frame rate of the screen to 60 Hz when the laptop is running on battery power. This causes the screen to flicker quickly when you unplug or plug in the laptop. I’ll also say that if you want to get the most out of your laptop’s battery, you should use it on anything but t.
Software and Warranty
When using an Asus ROG Strix G16, the Armory Crate is the single most useful application. The CPU, GPU, and fan settings are all customizable. The keyboard’s backlighting and other display and macro customization options can also be adjusted here. On the other side, the MyASUS app has diagnostic tools and information about your warranty. Windows 11 will have the usual garbage, including WhatsApp and Spotify. The ROG Strix G16 comes with a year of warranty coverage.
Final Words
In conclusion, the Asus ROG Strix G16 is a strong contender in the sub-$2,000 gaming laptop market. The Gigabyte Aorus 15X, priced at only $100 extra, is its closest competitor. The ROG Strix G16 has a longer battery life and a better display than the Aorus 15X, which only manages 2560 x 1600.
The Asus ROG Strix G16 is a powerful gaming laptop that exemplifies the capabilities of the latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards with Intel’s Raptor Lake mobile processor. The laptop’s additional highlights are its sturdy construction, tasteful use of RGB lighting, and pleasant typing experience.
Asus ROG Strix G16 review: The good and The bad
The Good
- Great battery life
- Excellent keyboard
The Bad
- 720p webcam
FAQS
1 Players’ Choice. The name Strix comes from the old Greek and Roman word for owl. It means “the sharpest hearing and eyesight.” Strix means to feel your surroundings so you can notice and respond to even the smallest action.
Most of the time, ROG Strix cards are high-end products. I.e., RGB, a cool look, overclocking, and most importantly, a better cooling system to handle the tweaks. Because of this, the price of this card is more than the price of the Founders Edition you stated.